Costa Rioa. From my point of view aridity is an ovil condition. 
'Whatever you decide to do you may count on me for assistance. 
But I hope you will select Costa Rica. 
I am working at the Central American orchid flora to the ex¬ 
clusion of everything else. In fact I have only been to the Bussey 
once since my return from Honduras. It is astonishing the amount of 
effort necessary to assimilate the material that has come in and that 
has accumulated in years past. Since I began work on the orchids for 
you there have been over three hundred species added to the flora 
of Guatemala, Costa Rica and Panama. To get records of all of this 
material has taken time and patience. But I have got them. Row I 
am waiting for Schlechter's big drive on Costa Rica. In the mean¬ 
time I am working up my material with that speed which prudence 
allows of. It is an even bet that my forthcoming paper will be too 
late to head him off and force him to review his novelties in the 
light of my proposals. 
It will bo extremely wise to put off any idea of publishing an 
orchid flora of Central America until next winter. This summer I 
intend to push ahead with monographic treatment of the larger genera 
and to make a general key to the genera that will be something more 
than an old fashioned front door key with which the public is re¬ 
monograph 
auested to open a Yale lockI Hranalin's/of Oncidium is awful. The 
key is a philosophical abomination. I have simply got to seat blood 
over this group. 
As I have already said, I am interests d in whatever plans you 
make. If I can bo of use to you let mo know what You think you can 
produce and what you think it will be worth. Also excuse this hasty 
rtf' 9 #^ 
oncoherent attept to express myself. 
"A. k 
Yours faithfully. 
